HOOD RIVER — Following federal immigration enforcement activities in the area, and their impact on the community, council members unanimously directed City Manager Abigail Elder to declare a State of Emergency in the City of Hood River at its Dec. 8 regular meeting.
The meeting opened with comment from members of the public who shared concerns over the treatment of immigrants in the community by federal enforcement authorities. Many provided personal accounts of local residents and immigrants living in a state of fear.
Later, Elder presented prepared remarks outlining actions that the council and city could take, drawing examples from other Oregon cities. After deliberating these options, and hearing from District Attorney Matthew Ellis and Hood River City Attorney Dan Kearns, the city council decided on a course of action.
In addition to declaring a State of Emergency, the city council also expressed a desire to facilitate community listening sessions, train staff on Oregon sanctuary laws and how to respond to requests from federal immigration agents and continue to work with local community-based organizations and governments.
City council will consider a resolution declaring the City of Hood River as a Sanctuary City at their next meeting on Jan. 12. At that meeting, council will also ratify the emergency declaration, with the option to make amendments to the declaration.
“The city has the responsibility to uphold the rule of law, and this includes ensuring constitutional protections, due process, judicial warrants, protections from unlawful detention as respected … Federal authority does not suspend constitutional protections,” Council President Gladys Rivera said during the Dec. 8 meeting.
City Councilor Doug Stepina also voiced support for an Emergency Declaration and continued actions from the city.
“I think the listening sessions are especially important to make people feel safe, but also that we are listening at these meetings and getting information from the public,” he said.
Earlier this year, the Hood River City Council passed Resolution 2025-06: Resolution Affirming the City as an Inclusive and Welcoming City, and adopted a “Somos Immigrantes” proclamation, which declaring Hood River as a city of immigrants, affirming the local campaign organized by Riverside Church.
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